Hanoi (VNA) – An incense offeringceremony was held in the northern midland province of Phu Tho on April 14 (orthe tenth day of the third lunar month) to commemorate the death anniversary ofHung Kings, the legendary founders of the nation.

Attended the event were National AssemblyChairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, officials from the Communist Party of Vietnam(CPV) Central Committee, and leaders of ministries, departments and localities,as well as Vietnamese people at home and expatriates.

The death anniversary of Hung Kings has longbeen considered a significant day of the whole nation, illustrating the spiritof solidarity and tradition “when drinking water, remember its sources”.

The participants prayed for national peace,prosperity, and strong development.

Chairman of the provincial People’s CommitteeBui Van Quang highlighted the significance of the day as well as the remarkableachievements that the whole Party, army and people have gained in the cause ofnational reform, integration, and development.

After offering incense at Thuong Temple, NAChairwoman Ngan and delegates laid wreaths at Hung Kings tomb.

Phu Tho along with the Mekong Delta city of CanTho, the central province of Nghe An, and the northern province of Son Larepresenting different regions across the country has actively carried outplans in celebration of the death anniversary of Hung Kings and Hung KingsTemple Festival in 2019.

Various kinds of activities have been takingplace during the day such as palanquin processions, contests to make “BanhChung” (square glutinous rice cake) and “Banh Day” (white, flat, and roundglutinous rice cake) – which were created by the 18th prince of Hung King some3,000-4,000 years ago – symbolysing the “earth” and the “sky”, respectively,and art and cultural programmes.

A ceremony offering incense and flowers to HungKings was held the same day in Ho Chi Minh City with the presence of Politburomember Nguyen Thien Nhan, Secretary of the municipal Party’s Committee.

Legend has it that Lac Long Quan (real name SungLam, son of Kinh Duong Vuong and Than Long Nu) married Au Co (the fairydaughter of De Lai). Au Co then went on to give birth to a pouch filled with onehundred eggs, which soon hatched into a hundred sons, believed to be Vietnam’sancestors. However, soon thereafter, Lac Long Quan and Au Co separated. LacLong Quan went to the coast with 50 of the children, while Au Co went to thehighlands with the rest.

Their eldest son was made king, who named thecountry Van Lang and set up the capital in Phong Chau (nowadays Viet Tri city,Phu Tho province), beginning the 18 dynasties of the Hung Kings.

The kings chose Nghia Linh Mountain, the highestin the region, to perform rituals devoted to rice and sun deities to pray forhealthy crops. 

To honour their great contributions, a complexof temples dedicated to them was built on Nghia Linh Mountain, and the tenthday of the third lunar month serves as the national commemorative anniversaryfor the kings. 

The worshipping rituals of the Hung Kings wasrecognised as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2012.-VNA